House Passes Health Care Bill

11.07.09

A strong, necessary step forward. Now, onto the Senate, which always proves to be a tougher forum. Things get stickier when every state, regardless of population, has equal say. I’m looking at you, Wyoming.

Upon further investigation, I found that the House Bill does something I didn’t even realize needed to be done:

In a further slap, the industry would lose its exemption from federal antitrust restrictions on price gouging, bid rigging and market allocation.

Why in the world was the health insurance industry exempt from those restrictions in the first place!? This is fucking bullshit. There is absolutely NO reason for that industry to be exempt from those protections. None. No wonder premiums were skyrocketing and coverages denied. Insurance companies could work together to keep profits up and payments down without breaking any antitrust laws. Un-fucking-real. People should be enraged by this. Maybe I’m just late to the party with this, but I have a feeling most people didn’t know that the current health care industry was that unregulated.

No wonder everything went to complete shit. I would love to know whose genius idea that was. In an industry where there’s already very little competition – everyone needs health coverage – let’s just let them run rampant without any of the antitrust protections that other industries have. I’m sure it has nothing to do with health care lobbyists and insurance companies donating huge sums of money to politician’s campaigns. None at all.

Here’s hoping the Senate follows suit and passes their version of the health care bill. It’s beyond time to improve this system.

2 comments

There will not be a revolt. An overwhelming majority voted Democrats into office with the desire to have health care overhauled. This is what a majority of people want, regardless of whatever poll you point to. Polls change from day to day. But clearly this is something that enough people wanted badly enough to vote in a Democratic House, Senate, and President.

There will not be a revolt. Revolting against health care for all (just about) would be the most ridiculous thing ever. If America couldn’t get enough people to revolt against Bush for a completely unnecessary war, it sure won’t happen over this health care bill.

Quit your fear mongering. It’s getting old and it’s completely empty of substance. Some people may be persuaded by your rhetoric, but I’m not one of them.